Change of attitude over the years?

[Dadwood]

When I first went fishing with my dad in the years immediately after the war, EVERYTHING we caught was taken home to add to the meagre amount of food my family could afford. (Is that the Forum Ochestra's string section I can hear?) Anyway, even when I was old enough to fish on my own I continued to take home almost all I caught. It seems that old habits die hard. But in the last twenty years my attitude has changed completely; these days I try real hard to put ALL my catches back unharmed. It upsets me to have to 'dispatch' a fish that has been hook-damaged. I wonder if this more sympathetic attitude comes with age - and does it affect others too? Well, you might call me an old softy (the wife does, frequently) but I still sleep sounder at night each time I return from a session knowing that all has been put back unharmed. Mike's little message springs to mind, 'kill nothing but time'. What sort of attitude do other members have? As always, kind regards to all.

[MRG2000]

Attitudes have definatly changed over the years , i do keep a few cod ,pollock and haddock to eat but i'd say 99 % goes back unharmed. You cat beat seeing the fish swim off after a picture.

[SIMPLE MAN]

Same for me,a photo and return for another day but when i am away on my angling adventures i do seem to keep more for the pot

[chazyboi]

i like to return fish but i do keep the occasional flattie bass doggy ect ,only thing that does me is wen i see dog fish chucked up the beach do people know how good eating they are ,and what a criminal waste it is ,,,
@dadwood im gonna put your posts to the hovis theme tune would add to the atmosphere lol

[LittleFish]

I used to go coarse and carp fishing,but for the past 20 years I have concentrated on Game and Sea angling as I prefer to catch, or at least try to catch,only fish that I intend eating.

[chris.oldgit]

Originally Posted by LittleFish

I used to go coarse and carp fishing,but for the past 20 years I have concentrated on Game and Sea angling as I prefer to catch, or at least try to catch,only fish that I intend eating.

no conger then, that tastes and chews like horse meat, cant beat a nice plaice or sole with atwist of lemon and some fresh crusty bread, loverly

[barbelblanker]

I think most anglers who have been around for a while and care about their sport take a few but not for the sake of it. When the mackerel are in then taking a few to eat and for bait is just natural. What does my head in is when people kill fish then discard them. Why? I hate it when I deep hook a fish (does happen occasionally) as I know that it is pretty much dead , now or later. As I see it there's nothing wrong with taking what you are going to use, within reason.

[the pyromaniac]

My granddad was the one who took me fishing as a kid and he never kept anything. Now I'll occasionally keep a few and give them to Tóño the Mexican to see what he can do with them, but that's about it. Even that is limited, since I almost never give him anything but trout and catfish. In our area, trout aren't native, and are stocked to give the chefs among us (professional like him and amateur like me) access to fresh trout. Catfish are native, but they're everywhere, relatively easy to catch, and can be kept in large quantities (20 per man per day), so we do occasionally take those to the restaurant so he can make catfish tail soup.

[cod]

If its big enough to make a meal then yes will take a few only what i can eat everything else will go back

[lazy hooker]

i just don't catch anything